Why would I buy it?

petrol and diesel cars share the same 400Nm torque figure, with the petrol having it spread across a far larger rev range – 1550 to

4400rpm for the petrol and just

1750 to 2500 for the diesel – meaning the petrol effortlessly out-grunts the diesel and is a far more satisfying drive. The handling is equally exceptional in both, but the 330i is more able to make the most out of it, with the

320d running out of breath a little too soon to be truly satisfying.

Standard equipment is broadly similar across both and not wanting in any regard – we simply don’t have the room to touch on all the tech BMW has packed into the new 3, but will just say that the driver assists are deeply impressive.

Then there is the interior (identical in both) which doesn’t look like a massive advance over the old car, but is exceptionally well put together, impressively high quality and has been subtly, but significantly, re-arranged to be far more driver-focused.

Because you have a current 330i and need to trade up. No, really; you need to. While the styling may not be a massive jump (and could even be described as overly fussy in some areas), the driving experience so much improved as to be worth the price of change alone.

Ever thought you might like to give someone a one-off Lotus Evora GT410 Sport with a livery inspired by the 1960s Lotus Elan owned by a legendary Formula 1 champion for Christmas?

Well, you can’t, but you can do possibly the next best thing – give them a chance to win one.

The Jim Clark Trust in the United Kingdom says that it has the perfect gift for any motor racing or sports car fan wrapped up this Christmas, with the new gift option for its competition to win the 100,000th Lotus – a unique Jim Clark Evora GT410 Sport.

The Trust says that for just £20

(NZ$37) you can now gift a friend or loved one the chance to win the special edition Lotus and support the charity as it builds a new museum dedicated to the legendary racing driver in his home town of Duns, Scotland.

The Jim Clark Lotus Evora

GT410 Sport was built by Lotus Exclusive for the Trust as a tribute to Clark and its livery was based on the red Lotus Elan he drove in the 1960s, registration number 997 NUR.

As a mark of respect for the historic F1 team’s most successful driver, the Jim Clark Lotus Evora

GT410 Sport is the 100,000th car built by the famous British marque.

Echoing the original car’s colour scheme, with red paintwork, a silver roof and silver wheels, plus tartan upholstery, the car carries Clark’s signature on each rear buttress and includes a discreet interior plaque confirming its 100,000th build status.

But even if you’re too late for Christmas, you can still enter – the winner of the competition will be announced at the opening of the new Jim Clark Museum next year.

While the competition is open to anyone, there is one catch – the winner will be responsible for collecting the car and transporting it from the UK if you want to get it home. Although, while the car alone would be worth the trip, the museum would definitely merit a trip in its own right.

Built by the Trust to preserve the memory of one of the sports